The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on January 6, 1928:LUVERNE BANKS TO INSTITUTE SERVICE CHARGE ON JAN. 15Will Make Charge of 50 Cents on Checking Accounts Where Daily Balance Does Not Equal $50.00Luverne’s banks — The First and Farmers National and the Rock County — this week announced that beginning with January 15th a service charge of 50 cents per month will be made by both institutions for all checking accounts which do not carry an average daily balance of $50.00.This charge is held to be necessary to enable the banks to handle the vast amount of work on many checking accounts where the balance kept on deposit is so small that the benefits which accrue from such funds do not anywhere near cover the cost of handling the checks issued against it, in many instances, it is claimed, a marvelous number of small checks, ranging from a few cents to a trifle over one dollar, will be issued by a checking account patron whose monthly balance usually amounts to only a comparatively few dollars. New service charge will apply only in cases where checks are issued. If no checks are issued on open accounts averaging less than the $50 daily balance, no charges will be made.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

Like so many others, I’m a little down with a cold this week. It came on slowly so I was in denial for a while, but it’s now clear that my naturally sultry voice sounds like I gained an extra Y chromosome and my fair skin is just a shade lighter than pasty. Luverne schools missed 100 students Tuesday due to illnesses, and workplaces all around us are without employees. Unfortunately, it’s usually those closest to us and our own behavior that are to blame for getting sick.Being around smokers increases non-smokers’ risk of getting a cold, and their symptoms will probably be worse and last longer.Being close to people we care about when they’re sick also makes us vulnerable.In my case, my immune system could be worn out from fending off germs from my own workspace. A University of Arizona study concluded that the average office desk harbors 20,961 germs per square inch, which is 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.Telephones have 25,127 germs in an average square inch on the receiver, and desktops have 20,961 germs. Keyboards were found to support 3,295 germs per square inch with another 1,676 on the mouse. Toilet seats have just 49 germs. For those of you who have a cold, or feel one coming on, it’s not too late. I am fortunate to work with Lori Ehde, who hears a sneeze and quickly offers a sample from her baggie of Echinacea capsules, like a pusher on a street corner. The herb is reported to boost immune systems.Other remedies that could work include:obananas, which soothe upset stomachsobell peppers, loaded with vitamin Coblueberries, which curb diarrhea and have a natural aspirin that lowers fevers and helps with aches and painsocarrots, which are full of beta-caroteneochili peppers, which can open sinusesomustard and horseradish, which both break up mucus in air passagesoonion, which may help clear bronchitis and other infectionsotea, black or green, which contains a natural antibioticGood luck with these and any other free advice you get on your cold or flu symptoms.I’m going to hope for the best as I continue my work from the Tollefson Publishing girls’ room, since it has fewer germs than my desk and infectious friends.

The cat’s finally out of the bag. Perhaps we should say, the cat’s off the warm car engine. A recent Reuters story told about a six-week-old kitten that stowed away next to a car engine in Germany. By the end of the day it had traveled for 275 miles with an unsuspecting couple from Eggenfelden, Elisabeth and Dieter Gesehl. All ended well, however. After the Gesehls reached their destination, they heard a mewing noise under the car hood and discovered the unharmed kitten, which they adopted and named "Pussy." Although the story from Germany might be described as charming with its storybook ending, it is a guilt-filled reminder for many of us who have lived on farms or acreages in the country. We have had similar experiences with countless farm felines, often referred to as "mousers." Mousers live in machines, barns and other outbuildings on farms. They thrive well on friendly handouts at the kitchen door and, of course, mice. There are often too many mousers to name and they certainly don’t live inside the house. They frolic as kittens and hunt as adults. They breed and they multiply to the extent that it’s sometimes difficult to keep track of them. What matters is that they do their work and they keep country yards from resembling movie sets for rodent terror flicks such as "Ben" and "Willard." During the summer of 1977, our four young daughters attempted to name all of our cats and kittens. It was almost an endless process with some older cats wandering off, never to be seen again, and new batches of kittens appearing on a regular basis. At least four of the cats were named Rusty. Of course, the christenings all took place before that summer’s Great Distemper Plague, which cruelly reduced our farm’s feline population. The four girls officiated, prayed and sang at countless cat funerals and burials. The act of burying a cat in our grove beneath a cross made from Popsicle sticks became a daily ritual. It was a somber summer as the girls and, of course, the cats had their first experiences with mortality. Unfortunately, those weren’t the only cat casualties. Like the kitten in Germany, our cats were fond of crawling under the hoods of pickup trucks and cars parked in our farmyard. The warm engine of a recently parked vehicle must have seemed particularly inviting to the cats on cold days. The trick for the cats was to know when to jump down and run for safety. One day I loaded our daughters into the backseat of the car for what promised to be a fairly routine trip to the grocery store in town. However, as I turned the key in the ignition, a loud "thunk-a-thunk, whump-whump" sound could be heard under the car’s hood. "What was that?" asked the girls, almost in perfect unison. "Nothing, I’m sure." I eased the car out the driveway and onto the road, taking great care to avoid a backseat glimpse of the furry black-and-white lifeless clump lying near the kitchen door. I hoped the grisly evidence would be removed before our return from town, and thankfully it was. At another time, my husband unknowingly transported a full-sized tomcat to town under the hood of his pickup truck. As he parked on Main Street, the half-crazed cat, obviously suffering from pickup lag, jumped down and fled for several of its nine lives. It vanished from sight between store buildings as quickly as it had appeared. Unlike the Reuters story, there wasn’t enough time for my husband to either adopt or name the wild-eyed cat. Real life doesn’t always have charming, storybook endings.

Please consider this article as a reprint for your newspaper in any way you deem useful. I can't say it any better than this guy from Tennessee has. Thank you.I’d like to put out an urgent call to Republicans to make sure their sons and daughters volunteer for active military service. Uncle Sam needs you. National Guard and Army Reserve recruitment is falling short by some 50%, and it’s getting tougher and tougher for the Marines, the Army and the other services to get the kind of recruit they want. Wait a minute -- the Marines and the Army ought to be flooded with volunteers!I know that George Bush ran as a war president, and his main declaration was that he would stay the course in Iraq and Afghanistan, and wherever he felt military intervention was required. He held one crowded and cheering rally after another on this theme all across the United States, including Tennessee. I saw all those good people on TV waving their American flags and doing high fives. I read many letters in this very newspaper supporting the war, including some from students of fighting age.Some 59,000,000 Americans voted for George Bush and the Republicans. That includes the majority of the people in Tennessee. So why are we short of recruits to fight in Iraq? We ought to be inundated with enthusiastic volunteers. Tomorrow morning, I’d like to see 59,000,000 SUV’s pulling up in front of Marine Corps and Army enlistment offices. I see Tax Cut Hummers full of happy families, including healthy looking young people, whizzing by U.S. recruitment offices, and I wonder what the problem is: brake failure every time you get close to signing up to fight in a war you supported for a President you elected?Now if you’re a young Republican who hates taxes and supports the war in Iraq, you can’t get away any longer with a ridiculous yellow ribbon on the back of your car. You’re going to have to pay for the war, and you’re going to have to fight in it. Who did you think was going to do that, if not you? Democrats?I’ll volunteer to drive busloads of young Republican volunteers to their first military basic training session after they enlist. And there should be a huge number of volunteers; I don’t think Republicans are cowardly blowhards like most Democrats. Otherwise, I’m sorry to say, I’m going to tell my Congressman Lincoln Davis that we need a military draft in this country. The reason is simple: we need to hold people accountable for what they do, and it’s time for Republicans to go face combat and support their Commander in Chief. You voted for it. Now go get in it.(Reprinted from the Dec. 10 Intervention Magazine, written by Donald Trader)George GronholzPhoenix, Ariz.

Alliant Energy encourages changing or cleaning filters to keep furnaces running efficientlyChanging or cleaning a furnace filter is a maintenance task many homeowners forget or overlook. But this simple chore is one of the easiest ways to keep a furnace running efficiently."Failing to check the filter regularly can be costly, "said Dave Rogers, a trade account manager with Alliant Energy. "Dust and dirt can work their way into the blower and coil assemblies, reducing the furnace’s operating efficiency and eventually damaging the motor."Up to half of all furnace service calls are related to problems caused by dust and dirt clogging up vital system parts. "Replacing a filter takes just a few minutes and can save your furnace from a lot of wear and tear — and costly repairs," adds Rogers. Disposable fiberglass filters are inexpensive and easy to use — just pull out the used filter, throw it away and put in a new one. If disposable fiberglass filters are used, it’s important to change them every month, because the dirtier they get, the less effective they are. Most filters of this kind are effective at blocking only 10 to 15 percent of airborne particles even when they’re new. By upgrading to a 1# pleated filter you will get 25 to 30 percent particle blockage. Many people are switching to reusable electrostatic filters. These cost a little more — between $50 and $80 each, but they can last up to five years, and they’re three to five times more effective than fiberglass disposables. Reusable electrostatic filters should be cleaned at least every other month — pull it out, spray it off in the sink, let it dry and replace it. "Another option is the high-efficiency pleated filters," said Diane Hanson, a trade account manager with Alliant Energy. "They’re disposable, but they trap up to 75 percent of air particles, and they can last anywhere from six months to a year."In addition to replacing or cleaning furnace filters, it is recommended that homeowners clear snow and ice away from the furnace’s intake and exhaust vents outdoors. If the vents become blocked, dangerous carbon monoxide fumes can back up into the house, and the furnace could shut down" An annual checkup by a qualified service technician is also a good idea — especially if you have a natural gas system," reminds Leo Udee, a trade account manager with Alliant Energy. "The technician will check the flues and temperature settings, examine the heat exchanger for cracks, and check the safety mechanisms. A $50-$100 annual tune-up can reduce your annual heating cost by five percent."If your furnace is more than 10 years old, upgrading to new high-efficiency equipment can substantially reduce energy costs. Alliant Energy — Interstate Power and Light offers its residential and small business customers in Iowa and Minnesota a minimum rebate of $200 on qualifying heating systems. To learn more, call Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT to request the free PowerHouse brochure Heating Your Home, or look for it on the Internet at www.powerhousetv.com

By: Lexi MooreThe Hills-Beaver Creek Spanish Club will host a Taco Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the high school commons."We will be collecting a freewill donation — 100 percent of the donations will help to pay for the students’ trip to Europe in June," said H-BC Spanish Club advisor, Teri Richards.The Spanish Club began in 2002 and currently has 15 members. The student co-presidents are Ashley Buck and Danielle Fransman.This year the students have an opportunity to test their language skills as they travel through England, France and Spain. Richards and the students will spend 15 days in Europe. They will visit some of the world’s most historic sites including Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Windsor Castle and Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Richards said she feels the experience is an excellent learning tool and she is looking forward to helping her students experience what the world has to offer."They will see that there are so many possibilities out there for them," she said."They gain independence and self-reliance as well as realizing that there is a huge world out there made up of many different people, languages, customs and attitudes."Tuesday night’s taco bar will include soft and hard shell tacos, nachos, toppings and pop.

By Sara QuamThe Rock County Pool and Fitness Center got approval from the Pool Commission Tuesday to extend weeknight hours.Management made the suggestion because many members complained about the 8 p.m. closing time being too early.So, starting Jan. 31 the pool will be open until 8:30 p.m. and the fitness areas will be open until 8:45 p.m., giving staff time to do final cleaning and leave by 9 p.m.Commission member Ken Hoime said, "It’s flexible, friendly. We have to adapt to what the need is out there."There have been just a few complaints about the weekend closing times, so staying open later then probably won’t happen.The extra cost of staying open later on the weeknights is so slight that keeping members happy and having them stay with the facility, the Commission said, was worth it.

H-BC 66, Ellsworth 49The Patriot boys traveled to Ellsworth on Jan. 11. The boys took the win with the score 66-49.Kale Wiertzema made 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and eight assists. Tyler Bush netted 15 points and had a total of eight rebounds and five assists. Travis Broesder grabbed four rebounds and made 12 points. The JV boys won with the score of 48-38. John Sandbulte made 10 points and Cody Rozeboom had nine. The boys’ record stands at 8-3.H-BC boys grab fourth win in a rowOn Friday, Jan. 14, the H-BC Patriot boys played a home game against ML-B-O, taking the win with a score of 75-55. Zach Wysong netted 11 points. Kale Wiertzema had an outstanding 36 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Tyler Bush netted eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and had 11 assists. "Very good shooting game for H-BC," Coach Wiertzema said. "We were very active and moved the ball well."The JV boys also won with the score of 48-36. Aaron Esselink made 16 points and Jason Hup had 10 points. H-BC 75, West Lyon 65On Saturday the H-BC boys played the West Lyon Wildcats at West Lyon. The boys took the win with the score of 75-65.Tyler Bush had an outstanding 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Kale Wiertzema netted 24 points with nine rebounds and six assists. "Great win for H-BC. The game was very physical. We had a lead and West Lyon battled back, but we did a very good job countering their attack and got a nice win," said Coach Steve Wiertzema."I was pleased with the way the team kept their composure. I have to give the crowd some credit. After an exciting game the first thing the boys said in the locker room was ‘the crowd was great.’ "The boys’ next game will be tonight at home against Fulda.Box Scores:Wysong 3-2-0-0 13, Bush 1-8-2-5 21, Wiertzema 2-6-6-6 24, Baker 0-1-0-0 1, Broesder 1-2-2-5 9, Rozeboom 2-0-0-0 6

The Hills-Beaver Creek girls basketball team traveled to Comfrey for a rescheduled game on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Brittany Rozeboom netted 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Kerri Fransman made 10 points, with Cassi Tilstra netting 17 points and coming up with eight rebounds. Malinda Feucht had seven rebounds and five assists. Kelly Mulder blocked five shots. With four seconds left in overtime, Cassi Tilstra had a shot under the basket on an inbound pass to Stacy Bush. She made the bucket, so the girls took the win 49 to 47. "Despite not shooting well, the girls continued to play hard from start to finish," Coach Goehle said. "Our defensive pressure late in the overtime was the key in turning a five-point deficit into a two-point win." Patriot girls demolish W-WGH-BC girls played Westbrook-Walnut Grove at W-WG on Jan. 13, and returned home with a decisive 82-35 win.Cassi Tilstra had 20 points, seven steals and 10 assists. Brittany Helgeson netted 12 points. Kelly Mulder had 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. "The girls shot the ball very well and were able to cause a number of turnovers, which helped us get the thing rolling," Coach Goehle said.Girls take fourth in a row against the West Lyon WildcatsThe girls traveled with the boys to West Lyon on Saturday, Jan. 15, to take their fourth win in a row. The score was 52-43. The girls had a total of 30 rebounds and 17 turnovers. Cassi Tilstra netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Malinda Feucht had nine points and hit two big shots late in the fourth quarter. Kelly Mulder blocked seven shots along with Brittney Rozeboom making six points. These stories were submitted by Katie McGaffee.